Taiwanese arrested for illegally working in UK

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- A Taiwanese national was recently arrested in the United Kingdom for illegally working in the country, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said yesterday.

The young Taiwanese man first arrived in Ireland under a working holiday visa, according to MOFA's Department of European Affairs Director-General Zhang Ming-zong (張銘忠),

However, he was unable to find a job in the country and thus he later decided to enter the UK under a visa-waiver program.

During his stay at a hotel in North Wales, he worked as a part-time staff in exchange for his accommodation, Zhang said.

Even though he did not receive payment for his service, he was later arrested and detained by British police authorities for engaging in activities that did not comply with the applicant's visa application, he said.

The Taiwanese youth has already been deported back to Taiwan under the assistance of Taipei's representative office in London, he said.

The British government included Taiwan in its visa waiver program in March 2009.

The MOFA official reminded the Taiwanese public that the visa-waiver provision only allows Taiwanese travelers to enter the European country for business and pleasure for up to 90 days without a visa.

But Taiwanese wishing to stay in the UK for more than three months, to study there for longer than six months, or to work in the country, will still need to obtain a student visa or working visa from the country before entry, he said.

Meanwhile, Zhang yesterday said that Taiwan and Hungary have signed a reciprocal youth working holiday agreement last week that will allow a total of 100 Taiwanese youngsters per year to travel to the European country and vice versa.